An Explainable Fuzzy Framework for Assessing Preeclampsia Classification.

Abstract

Background: Preeclampsia remains a leading cause of maternal morbidity worldwide. There is a critical need for predictive systems that not only perform accurately but also provide interpretable insights for clinical decision-making. This work introduces SK-MOEFS, an explainable framework based on fuzzy logic and multi-objective evolutionary optimization, designed to classify preeclampsia risk while generating clinically interpretable rules. Methods: The model integrates fuzzy decision trees with a genetic algorithm to identify a compact and relevant set of rules, optimized for both accuracy and interpretability. The system was trained and evaluated on third-trimester pregnancy data from a publicly available, multi-ethnic cohort comprising 574 individuals. All processes, including preprocessing, training, and evaluation, were conducted using open-source tools, ensuring reproducibility. Results: SK-MOEFS achieved 91% classification accuracy, an AUC of 0.89, and a recall of 0.88-outperforming other standard interpretable models while maintaining high transparency. The model emphasizes minimizing false negatives, which is critical in clinical risk stratification for preeclampsia. Conclusions: Beyond predictive performance, SK-MOEFS offers a rule translation and defuzzification layer that outputs probabilistic interpretations in natural language, enhancing its suitability for clinical use. This framework provides an effective bridge between algorithmic inference and human clinical judgment, supporting transparent and reliable decision-making in maternal care.